The GMC CCKW

Now this is the way to haul your toys!!!! Nice work John!









And for protection...your own Jedi Knight!



What it looked like when John first bought it.

Quite the Rig ! thats hauling in style , an all weather high speed interstate mover ,with a big sleeper for all the comforts of home I bet .

Thanks for posting these photos, Bill
I guess you could call it the "unveiling" of my " winter project"
You guys are right in thinking this is ....wwaaayyyyy more truck than needed for moving a CCKW...but....moving a 1/2 track or even a Stuart...maybe .."not so much"
The "toter" has huge horsepower, and HUGE brakes with 10 speeds and a "Jake", going up hills and down the other side is no longer a "white knucle experience " It makes for pleasent and SAFE towing.
I decided to go the "class 8 " route for financial reasons
With a design life of 1 million miles ,there are loads of used ,well maintained and CHEAP candidates out there.
Remember these trucks are designed for "highway "use and the speeds associated with it. Unlike our OD colored vehicles
The price for a new "medium duty" ( class 4 to 6 ) is $55K to $90K , and
in the used market "mediums" are $40K to $70K and not all are suited for efficient highway use
I purchased the IHC 9400 used , from a dealer ( Freightliner of Maine )
Modified the driveline and wheel base, fabricated the body, and assembled the related components as pictured for less than $30K ( now that wwaaayyyy less than a new "pick-up" )
With all the "comforts of home" in the stand-up sleeper including " the kitchen sink" I can register the vehicle as a "motor home" and since my use is "recreational " as opposed to "commercial" I am exempt from all the expenses/paperwork, medical card, etc., associated with operating LARGE comm. trucks.
Thanks again , Bill , for allowing me to "showcase " some of my work.

John

So is the modified version is the single rear axle?

Does the single/dual rear axle change the classification?

Neil

Yes Neil I removed the forward (aka Front Rear axle) and relocated the "Rear Rear" axle to the forward mounts .

Tandem rear axles = class 8
Single rear axle = class 7

John

DANG!!!!! I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy......

John, it looks GREAT!!!!!

You can try it out bringing your M20 over this way for the Motor March next month

Here's a picture of the two old trucks ready for Hallsville. We've updated the horsepower since this picture was taken.

Not quite OD Green, but...

John

Approximately how much did you pay for the original truck?

How much does it cost to insure one of these for the road?

Neil

I have never seen a trailer combined with a pickup truck like this here in Europe. I don't think I ever will because of very strict traffic laws.

Chris

Conn,
I'm likin' that Mack CH is it "pure " Mack ?

Neil,
I bought the 2000 IHC 9400 in Oct 08 for $ 20K as shown in the last photo with fresh lubes and DOT sticker( if you buy from a dealer most won't let them leave until they are completly DOT legal.)

I recently saw a similarly equipped IHC '05 model year listed for $ 15K
Prices are still dropping .go to www.truckpaper.com if you care to see more.
Being from Texas you will have many more choices ( locally )

In Maine my truck and trailer insured as a "motor home " ,liability only coverage is $ 600.00 per year
Plates are $220.00 per year ( 40K GVW )
and we have an Excise tax as well so it ain't cheap

Chris,
Gooseneck trailers are common here, But "full trailers" ( trailers with dollys) are "restricted" here, but seem common on your side of the pond

John

John V Cliche wrote:Conn,
I'm likin' that Mack CH is it "pure " Mack ?

Almost pure, except for the Spicer Super-10 transmission. It does have the MACK double reduction rears though.

Conn wrote:
Almost pure, except for the Spicer Super-10 transmission.

Is that the one where you have to split each shift?

John

John V Cliche wrote:

Conn wrote:
Almost pure, except for the Spicer Super-10 transmission.

Is that the one where you have to split each shift?

John

Yep, not a bad trans. once you get use to it...Just drive it like an old farm truck Chrome puppy, not a gold one

Not to many "gold puppies" around nowadays

John

I can't believe how cheap these trucks are!

I see a lot of Freightliner Century trucks going cheap. Is there anything wrong with these trucks?

Which trucks are considered easiest to drive?

Is an autoshift the same as an automatic?

Neil

Freightliner,Volvo IHC are very plentiful
Pete 387s ,Kenworths T600 are OK also but usually command a higher price ,and most KW suspension sys. are VERY complicated to "single"

There is ALOT to check when buying a "used" truck of this type
Depending on your comfort level with this task there are several outfits that will handle the evaluation process for a minimal fee.

Fleet trucks will "generally" have good documented maintaince programs but not all

Generally any Class 8 or 7 with an " integral sleeper" ( a non- removable sleeper ) has no value in the "vocational market" aka dump trucks , farm trucks etc.therefore they are priced accordingly.

"Automatics" have torque converters You won't find any in Class 8s ( unless they are specialty application ) Rubbish packers etc.

"Autoshifts" are just that they shift with selonoids including clutch dis-engagement.
There are 3 pedal "autoshifts" where you use the clutch to start off and to stop, and there are 2 pedal "autoshifts" where the clutch operation is out of your control.
Each munufacturer has a "trade name" such as Freedom line etc.

Here is a link to the best forum should you be contemplating a move to the "dark side" http://www.rvnetwork.com/
The HDT forums are concerning Heavy Duty Toters and the MDT forums are Medium Duty Toters
Take time to read the resource guide and several members signatures web sites, 99% of the questions you have ,are aready answered somewhere on that site I know mine were
I've been around these "large cars" all my life,and it still took me nearly a year to find a suitable truck for conversion.
Hope this helps
John